Is this the Virgin Mary? Church apparition draws crowds in 'Christmas miracle'

MIRACLE: It happened on the anniversary of Our Lady of Guadalupe, where Mary appeared in Mexico

The apparition, which resembles an oil-blue smear on the church’s glass panes, has been visited by throngs of believers.

As crowds gathered to see the “miracle,” which appeared just before Christmas, eyewitnesses reported a fragrance of roses.

Parishioner Victor Jose Alvarado was at the church when the mother of Jesus first appeared on the window of Transfiguration Catholic Church in Atlanta, US.

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HOPE: Crowds gather around the window in the Catholic church

He said: “We started praying and singing songs to the Virgin Mary of Guadalupe, and immediately started feeling peace and the smell of roses.

“We just finished having lunch when someone noticed a very bright sun ray and in front of our eyes her image starting to appear in the window.”

The church, which has its own Facebook page, posted pictures of the window online and received thousands of likes.

Father Fernando said: “I cannot say for sure how this image was formed. I have heard several explanations ranging from a divine occurrence to a faulty window coating. I will let you make your own interpretation.

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BELIEF: The priest said the appearance symbolised hope

“We may never agree on why or how this image appeared on the window. The true gift to us will be in how we are inspired to be MORE: more forgiving, more accepting, more loving to those with whom we share our lives.”

Catholic bishops must investigate “apparitions” before they become official, and can ask the Vatican for advice.

However, confirmation can take up to years or centuries, like in the case of ‘Our Lady of Laus’ which was reported in 1665 and received recognition as a supernatural event in 2008.

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CHEESY: A grilled cheese sandwich with Mary's likeness was bought on eBay for £18,000